CHERTSEY

BOATS, BRIDGES, BOILERS ... IF IT'S GOT RIVETS, I'M RIVETTED
... feminist, atheist, autistic academic and historic narrowboater ...
Likes snooker, beer, tea, rivets and solitude, and is strangely fascinated by the cinema organ.
And there might be something about railways.
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Friday, 17 June 2011

Movable ballast

My thoughts have been turning to Chertsey's ballast situation. At the moment we're carrying something in the region of three tons of canal water (possibly less as some has slopped out or evaporated over the past year...). This takes up an awful lot of space, being as it is kept in three large tanks sitting in the middle of the hold, necessitating squeezing through an 18" gap to get past them.

So I am thinking of using a combination of steel, under the floors, augmented by smaller drums of water. This will give greater flexibility as they can be moved about depending on circumstances. Also of course there are the freshwater tanks in the back end, which when full add another ton. These can be emptied in emergencies (we started to do so when we were stuck on the northern Shroppie on the way back from Ellesmere Port, but then BW magicked up some water and we were floating again without needing to empty the tanks). There is also the possibility of having a ton or so of coal, although that would of course diminish over the course of the winter...

I have got my movable ballast for Braunston sorted out though. It comprises:
Bill and Michelle (Shilling)
Tony and Patti (WotEver)
Casper Ghost + daughter + brother
Bones + Bones's friend's dad
Adrian and Linda (Warrior purchasers)

Any more and I'll be needing a Boatmaster ticket!

I hope I haven't forgotten anyone. You're all very welcome, and there are two parades, so I'm sure there'll be room for everyone.
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5 comments:

  1. Neil Corbett17 June 2011 at 21:18

    We use cans of beer as moveable ballast. Some up the front and some up the back. When you need to re-trim the boat, just drink some from the appropriate end. It doesn't make a lot of difference, but when you've tried the re-trimming for a while, you don't seem all that bothered any more.

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  2. Anonymous17 June 2011 at 22:45

    Trying to arrange passage on one of the parades to take photos. If you think you might have space could you drop me a line on twozeroukAgmail.com. Happy to pay passage or contribute to beer, diesel or any other fund you might prefer.

    Thanks

    Chris

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  3. Sarah18 June 2011 at 08:49

    Think I'm full now Chris so better not make any more commitments!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Anonymous19 June 2011 at 14:00

    Thanks anyway !

    ReplyDelete
  5. Sarah19 June 2011 at 18:27

    Come by and say hi, you never know what might be possible, just didn't want to make any promises if you might have been able to make other arrangements.

    ReplyDelete

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